Toy bank

ABSTRACT

A toy bank of the type wherein a coin is launched at a target as part of the action in depositing the coin in the security portion of the bank, characterized in that the target has a plurality of target areas through which the coin may be fired and, if so successfully fired, falls on a return ramp behind the target areas constructed and arranged to return the coin to the exterior of the bank where it may be launched again. Also, further characterized by a coin receiving surface forwardly of the target area for receiving coins which rebound forwardly from the target area to feed the coins into a security portion of the bank.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Marvin 1. Glass Chicago; Gordon A. Barlow, Evanston, both 01, Ill. 21 Appl. No. 753,425 [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1968 [45] Patented June 1, 1971 [73] Assignee Marvin Glass 8: Associates [54] TOY BANK 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl ..46/4,133/3 [51] Int. Cl...... A63h 33/30 [50] Field of Search 46/4, 5, 2, 3; 273/102.1B,102 AP, 101; 133/3 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,926 7/1934 Lewis 133/3 m13,ss1,430

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Att0meyHofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: A toy bank of the type wherein a coin is launched at a target as part of the action in depositing the coin in the security portion of the bank, characterized in that the target has a plurality of target areas through which the coin may be fired and, if so successfully fired, falls on a return ramp behind the target areas constructed and arranged to return the coin to the exterior of the bank where it may be launched again. Also, further characterized by a coin receiving surface forwardly of the target area for receiving coins which rebound forwardly from the target area to feed the coins into a security portion of the bank.

PATENTED JUH 1 1971 3,581,430

INVENTORS MARI/W 6M 55 GORDON EAPAOW 3%, Mdfw BY W41 ATTORNEYS TOY BANK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to toy articles and, more particularly, to a toy bank.

2. Description ofthe Prior Art Generally speaking, toy banks of the type wherein a rifle or cannonlike apparatus is utilized to launch a coin in the form of a projectile for depositing of the same into a security or bank portion of the toy are generally old and well known in the art. However, such devices have been lacking in a reward for the successful firing of the coin other than the depositing of the coin into a square portion of the bank. While the stimulus for saving is significant, sometimes it is beneficial to provide children with an additional stimulus as part of the concept of saving coins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of a toy bank of the type which launches coins into a savings or security portion of the bank by a rifle or cannonlike structure. In the toy bank of this invention, the successful firing of a coin at the target area is rewarded by a return of the coin permitting a subsequent launching or firing thereof until such time as an unsuccessful shot causes the coin to be rebounded into the savings or security area of the bank.

The best mode currently contemplated by us for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a target area of a wall-like nature having openings therein which communicate with an enclosure formed behind the target wall. Forwardly of the target wall there is provided a louvered surface havingupwardly inclined slots in communication with a coin security portion. In the enclosure behind the target area a coin return ramp is provided which extends outwardly of the enclosure to a forwardly returning portion so that coins which are launched through the openings in the target area will be returned to the exterior to be launched again. Those coins which strike the target area and rebound forwardly therefrom will be automatically fed into the bank or security portion of the bank. Preferably, the entire playing area is covered by an enclosure of suitable clear material so that the coins which rebound off the target wall will be kept within the area of the louvered surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the toy bank of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section view of the bank shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away in section of the coin return portion of the toy bank of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view, partially broken away in section, of the firing mechanism of the rifle portion of the toy bank of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the target wall of the toy bank of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The toy bank of this invention is of the type having a simulated firing instrument, such as the rifle I2, for firing at a target area 14 at one end of an enclosure 16 having an opening 16a through which the rifle extends, for firing coins 18 (FIG.

3) into the interior thereofv Preferably, the enclosure is formed of a suitable clear plastic material or the like so that the action in the interior of the enclosure may be readily witnessed by the player or user of the bank 10. The target area has a plurality of discrete target portions shown as openings 14a, 14b and 140, through which it is intended that a successfully fired coin 18 should pass. A bell 19 is located to the rear of opening 14b to give an audible indication of a successfully fired coin.

The bank 10 includes a base, generally indicated 20, having a forward wall 20a, a rear wall 20b, opposite side walls such as 200, a top wall 20c, and a bottom 20f, all of which form an en closure 20g which preferably will comprise the banking or security portion of the toy bank of this invention. A pedestal 22 is rotatably mounted on the top 20 e near the forward wall 20a on pivotal mounting pin 2211 which projects upwardly from top 20s and is received in recess 22b of pedestal 22. A pair of spaced uprights 24 extend upwardly from pedestal 22 and pivotally mount the simulated rifle 12 for vertical movement with respect to base 20 by means of pivot pin 26 which extends through the uprights 24 and through the depending ear 26a of rifle 12.

A trigger 28 is pivoted at 30 to the rifle 12 within a recess 32. The forward end 32a of recess 32 is provided with an arcuate surface which abuts and generally mates with the arcuate cam surface 32!) at the forward end of trigger 28. A stop member 34 is formed on the forward end of trigger 28 and projects upwardly for holding bolt 38 in a retracted position.

Bolt 38 includes a coin-receiving portion 38a and a carriage portion 3817 which tracks in groove 40 formed in the top of the rifle 12. Groove 40 terminates in a stop or abutment at 40b. A spring 42 is positioned in a recess 44 for normally urging the bolt 38 forwardly of the rifle. When the bolt 38 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the spring 42 is compressed. When the trigger is pivoted by squeezing the same, the stop member 34 is moved out of engagement with the bolt 38, thereby permitting the spring 42 to expand and move the bolt 38 forwardly of the rifle with the carriage portion 38b tracking in groove 40. Preferably, the spring 42 has a relatively high magnitude of force so that when it is released from its compressed or retracted position, as shown in the drawings, it will throw a coin held in the coin-receiving portion 380 forwardly with a substantial amount of velocity and accuracy, depending upon the sighting and aiming of the gun with respect to the pivotal mountings 26 and 22a.

Target 14 comprises the forward wall of a boxlike coinreceiving enclosure 46 including a top 460, a rear 46b (which may be coextensive with the rear 20b of the base), a bottom 46c (which may be an extension of the bottom 20f of the base), and sidewalls 46d and 46a. The several openings 14a, 14b and in wall 14 provide a means for a coin 18 to gain access to the enclosure 46. In the opening 14a, simulated bottles 50 may be mounted on arms 52 which are connected to a rod 54 pivotally mounted in brackets 56. A spring 58 wound about rod 54 and bearing against the rear of wall 14a in bottle 50 provides a return mechanism. Thus, if a coin is successfully fired against the bottles 50, it will cause at least one of the bottles to be tipped over and permit the entry of the coin through the opening 14a and into the enclosure 46, whereupon the spring 48 will automatically return the bottle 50 to the upright position.

Enclosure 46 is provided with a means for returning the successfully fired coin to the exterior of the bank 10 to permit the refiring of the same. In the illustrated embodiment, this means includes a coin return track 60 including a portion 62 which extends generally transversely of the bank relative to the line of fire of the rifle and is also inclined downwardly to one side of the bank. Portion 62 merges into a substantially upright, tilting portion 64 in the area of the open bottom 64a of sidewall 46d. There the portion 64 merges with a return trough 66 formed to the exterior of one side 20c of the base. Preferably, the return trough 66 is inclined generally forwardly and downwardly so that coins will roll toward the forward end of the bank in the area of the rifle 12. A suitable stop means in the form of an upright wall 68 is provided for limiting the forward travel of any coins 18, so that they will be retained within the general control of the user of player of the bank 10.

The portion of top wall 202 of base within the enclosure 16 is provided with generally upwardly and forwardly inclined louvered portion 70 forming upwardly and forwardly inclined slots 72 therebetween. The slots 72 provide a means for a coin to gain access to the enclosure or bank security portion 20g. Thus, coins which strike the wall 14 without going through one of the openings therein, will be rebounded forwardly and caused to be gravitationally fed through the slots 72 into the security portion 20g. Suitable means may be provided for gaining access to the portion 20g, here shown as a door 74 hinged at 76 to the .bottom wall 20f. A lock means 78 may be provided for preventing the unauthorized or undesired access to portion 20g.

To use the apparatus, the player or user who is provided with a coin that he desires to bank will place the coin the in the coin-retaining portion 38a of bolt 38 and move the bolt to the retracted position where portion 34 of trigger 28 holds the bolt 38 and maintains the spring 42 in a compressed state. By pivoting about pivotal mountings 22a and 26, the rifle may be appropriately aimed and sighted to hopefully launch the coin into a path of flight which will cause the same to pass through one of the openings 14a, 14b and 14c. As the player then squeezes the trigger and pivots it about point 30, the restraining influence on spring 42 is released and the bolt 38 is caused to fly forwardly at a rapid rate of speed in the track 40 until it reaches the stop or terminal end 40b thereof, at which time the coin 18 is launched from the coin-receiving portion 38a. If the player is successful in launching the coin through one of the openings 14a, 14b or 14c, the coin will fall on the portion 62 of coin return track 60, and track downwardly to the portion 64 where it will be tilted upright. The coin will then roll forwardly in the trough 66 where it may be used again. If the player is unsuccessful, the coin will rebound forwardly from wall 14 through one of the slots 72 in the louvered portion and be fed into the security portion 20g of the base to await its subsequent extraction, when desired, by means of the suitable access door 74.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A toy bank comprising a base, a coin-launching mechanism journaled on said base and including means for receiving and launching a coin in a predetermined path, means defining a target area spaced forwardly of the launching mechanism and having a plurality of discrete target portions therein, and coin return means operably associated with said target portions to receive coins launched into said portions and to return the same for reuse, said coin return means including a ramp disposed to the rear of said target portions and extending generally laterally relative to the line of fire of the coin-launching mechanism, and a coin return trough communicating with the lower end of said ramp at a position along one side of said base and extending downwardly and forwardly to a position adjacent said coin-launching mechanism, said ramp having a first flat surface curving downwardly toward said one side of said base, and said trough having a depth and width such that a coin falling therein from said ramp is disposed on its edge to thereby roll along said trough toward said coin-launching mechanism.

2. A toy bank as set forth in claim 1, wherein the space between the coin-launching mechanism and the target area is enclosed in a transparent housing, and said coin return is externally of said housing.

3. A toy bank as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base includes openings in an upper wall portion thereof and within the confines of said transparent housing, whereby coins which rebound from said target area fall into the enclosure provided by base. 

1. A toy bank comprising a base, a coin-launching mechanism journaled on said base and including means for receiving and launching a coin in a predetermined path, means defining a target area spaced forwardly of the launching mechanism and having a plurality of discrete target portions therein, and coin return means operably associated with said target portions to receive coins launched into said portions and to return the same for reuse, said coin return means including a ramp disposed to the rear of said target portions and extending generally laterally relative to the line of fire of the coin-launching mechanism, and a coin return trough communicating with the lower end of said ramp at a position along one side of said base and extending downwardly and forwardly to a position adjacent said coinlaunching mechanism, said ramp having a first flat surface curving downwardly toward said one side of said base, and said trough having a depth and width such that a coin falling therein from said ramp is disposed on its edge to thereby roll along said trough toward said coin-launching mechanism.
 2. A toy bank as set forth in claim 1, wherein the space between the coin-launching mechanism and the target area is enclosed in a transparent housing, and said coin return is externally of said housing.
 3. A toy bank as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base includes openings in an upper wall portion thereof and within the confines of said transparent housing, whereby coins which rebound from said target area fall into the enclosure provided by base. 